Biological Markers of Dietary Intake, with Emphasis on Fatty Acids

• Published in: Annals of nutrition and metabolism 1991, Vol.35 (5), p.249-252
• Main Authors: Katan, Martijn B., van Birgelen, Angélique, Deslypere, Jean Paul, Penders, Margriet, van Staveren, Wija A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - chemistry; Afdeling Humane voeding; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers; Dietary Fats - administration & dosage; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated - administration & dosage; Eicosapentaenoic Acid - blood; Fatty Acids - administration & dosage; Female; Fish Oils - administration & dosage; Human Nutrition; Human Nutrition & Health; Human Nutrition (HNE); Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology; Humane Voeding; Humane Voeding & Gezondheid; Humans; Linoleic Acid; Linoleic Acids - administration & dosage; Linoleic Acids - analysis; Male; Medical sciences; Nutritional survey. Food supply and nutritional requirement; Review
• ISSN: 0250-6807; 1421-9697
• DOI: 10.1159/000177653

The level of certain polyunsaturated fatty acids in body fluids or tissues can be a valid indicator of their consumption in man. In 59 housewives studied over a 2.5-year period we found a correlation of 0.70 between the intake of linoleic acid, assessed as the mean of nineteen 24-hour recalls, and the level in fat tissue [Van Staveren et al.: Am J Epidemiol 1986;123:455–465]. In 58 adult men supplemented with fish oil capsules for 1 year, the rise of eicosapentaenoic acid levels in erythrocyte membranes was strongly and specifically related to the rise in intake. We conclude that epidemiological studies of the role of these fatty acids in health and disease could fruitfully employ these markers of dietary intake.